The New Kel

Happy Birthday! Congrats on your success!! What a cute, pretty pic.

Hi all! I am 11 weeks post op. I have a question about how my heart feels after an overly strenuous activity. When I do cardio for 30 minutes at the gym I am fine and my heart seems to return to resting rate after about 20 minutes. However, on a couple occasions I have attempted to hike with my husband, I am sure I am over-doing it. We hiked Monday (4 days ago), a 4.2 while hike with an elevation gain of 1100 ft, first 2 miles up, then last 2 miles down. it was in high-desert so the top elevation was 6800 ft. Did it in about 2 hrs. I was exhausted. My heart rate took a few hours to return to resting. However, for the next 3 days, my heart pounded hard with any sort of action...getting dressed, getting out of the car, short walking, raising out of bed. I thought perhaps it was dehydration? So I drank more Water that usual and now 4 days after the hike I finally feel normal, no more hard pounding heart. I used to experience this occasionally pre-surgery, when I was 50 lbs heavier. I had a full cardio work up and they found nothing wrong with my heart, thank goodness. Now being lighter I didn't expect to feel it. Could it be that I just am not in cardio shape enough to exert myself to this extent? I know I over did it. I worry about my heart/cardio because my brother had a heart attack at age 45. Just wondering if anyone has felt this pounding heart sensation days after hard exercise?

Now that I think of it, I think as a kid I could do about a half of one chin-up. But not even an inch pull-up.

Pull up is with the palms facing away and chin ups are with palms toward you. That was my goal at the beginning of this year. I had never done one in my entire life, but I am proud to say that I can do 15 chin-ups now! That's awesome!!! And thanks for the answer on pull-up vs chin-up. I think they would use different muscles then, right? @BigViffer

@ You're a bad, bad man. LOL! I nearly spit my coffee out at that pic.

I should make that a goal. I have never been able to do one...even when I was serving in the USAF! Or even as a kid in PE. Never! My arms are my weakness. I can barely throw! Good goal. Funny thing is my trainer says most of the guys who do them for Crossfit and stuff aren't doing "real" pull-ups, they're doing something called "kipping" where they throw themselves up with their hips and it's a "cheat" move. I've also never been able to do a pull-up, for the fitness tests I had to do the straight arm hang because I couldn't pull myself up even a bit. They have a machine at the gym that counter-balances percentages of your body weight with the weight stack that he says we will be able to start with down the line a bit, and start working up to it. When you say pull-ups, do you mean having your hands/arms facing out, or facing in? I think facing out is even harder, right? Anyway, I can't do either, but wow would that be a great goal!

@@LittleBill Again I am entertained and find laughter in your story! It's funny how all us WLS people find ourselves entering Gym-land and initially feeling strange. I always feel weird when I am on a cardio machine and right next to me is a 20something year old, 115 lb young lady fully tones running at about 30 MPH. Oh well, I figure that in a year or so MAYBE I can run half that fast. I have to laugh at the remarks about trainers and other people who help us being half our age. My husband and I are always remarking at how, seemingly suddenly our doctors, kids teachers, lawyers, and most of the work force looks to be young enough to be our kids. It's just weird going the the doctor and having him be half my age. I was at a retail store yesterday Christmas shopping in the mall. There is a new store call "Buckle" and I wandered in really not knowing what I was looking for. A young man, could not have been more than 22, asked to help me. He was the most polite, helpful salesperson I've ever run into. I was impressed so much by his service that I wrote an email to his boss. I am a huge sucker for manners and showing respect, regardless of age.

I should make that a goal. I have never been able to do one...even when I was serving in the USAF! Or even as a kid in PE. Never! My arms are my weakness. I can barely throw! Good goal.

@@Slick300 To prove that post sleevers can remain happy foodies, here's a pick and description of what I made tonight! Butcher’s Steak with Red Wine Reduction, Smoked Goat cheese Crema & Walnuts Granted, I could only eat about 2.5 ounces. But it was amazing and so much fun to make. For my husband I also made roasted red potatoes and herb green Beans to go with it. Plus I saved some steak for tomorrow's lunch. And last night I made Thai chicken Curry Soup. The possibilities are endless!

Dehydration or not enough calories usually causes those symptoms for me. When I feel like that I stop what I'm doing, get a couple bites of something then start a bottle of Water. I don't know about you, but for me it can sometimes be 3:pm and I realized I have have had maybe 100 calories for the day. I get busy and forgetful, causing that weakness and lightheadedness.

I forgot to add- regarding drinking. Before surgery I loved wine. I still do, but less. I will have a good quality dry wine, maybe one glass every few days in the evening. I just don't want it like before. Also, your tolerance for alcohol goes way down so you will get intoxicated from a fraction of what you were used to. I echo the sentiments so many have said here: Quality over quantity post-op.

@@Slick300, You have received some spot on, amazing advice here in these responses. I really think this topic is important, at least to me and the many other foodies who undergo WLS. I was just talking to my mom the other day, realizing that food preparation and the creating of dishes was a HUGE part of my life. I had nit even realized how much I loved the aspect of all things foodie. Post-op, I would agree with those who are saying that having the sleeve actually makes you a perfect foodie. You are forced to be selective, choosing only the best things that give you the most taste and satisfaction. We simply don't have room in our sleeved stomachs to allow food that doesn't matter (excess carbs, etc.) When you think about the great foodie stuff, at least for me, I think of high quality and creative meals. The emphasis is not on the size of the meal but the taste and the way it makes you feel. Being sleeved, we really learn to master the art of getting the Protein in, and also making it as enjoyable as possible. If you have problems now with over-indulgence as in volume (most of us did pre-sleeve), or in eating excessive junk foods, or food addictions, then you will have to come to terms with the fact that your life and behaviors will forever be altered. If you proceed with surgery, you have to know, and be happy with, the knowledge that food as far as volume will never be the same. Taste and creativity and preparing meals for others however doesn't change. I love good foods and at 2.5 months post-op I do not feel like I have lost the joy of my foodieness. Hope that helps! Good luck with your decision.

Premier is my go-to!

CW: 191

Fantastic!! That is a wonderful NSV.

Good job!! I did the same thing, right before I went to the hospital for surgery, so that I would come home to a clean, bariatric friendly fridge. My husband and the kids still have their stuff, but I separate it so that I have my own big section in the fridge. I have been lazy about my pantry, there is all kinds of stuff I can throw away in there. Its a big job! I went through my bedroom closet again today. Its so much fun for me to throw clothes into the "too big" pile and get rid of them. My closet is looking good! As for my freezer, unlike you I can't purge all the crap because my kids eat waffles, and other various no-nos. I just don't go into my freezer unless I need to defrost meat, lol.

Sounds like a nice get together. It's inspiring to hear others go out and can "indulge" without actually going off the cart completely. You were very in-line and did great!

I don't have many things on my list because my husband and I are saving for Ireland. However, I have my eye on a pair of high top shoes that are colorful...something very whimsical and I would have NEVER wanted before. But having lost weight I new don't feel self conscious wearing things that will bring attention. I always wanted a pair of Vans as well, but never thought of myself worthy of them being so heavy. This year, I'm getting the Vans.

I just went to my companies office party Friday night. There was food everywhere! But luckily for me, there were some heathy options. So I ended up having a little plate of appetizers: Shrimp, roasted red bell pepper, cheese, and even a sliced of grilled portabella! I splurged and had a glass of dry white wine, and sipped it all night.

Great post, Little Bill. I'm glad it all "came together" lol. I asked my husband to go retrieve the big box of Christmas stuff from the garage today. He did, and now he's wondering why because it's still sitting on the dining room table untouched. I'm feeling exceptionally lazy today!

Before I chose surgery I asked to be led toward an avenue that would be positive and the best overall thing to do and good for myself and those I love. Soon I was pursuing this path. I'm thankful for it everyday I wake up feeling so much better than pre surg. Best of luck to you and prayers for a speedy recovery!!

I found this bariatric friendly Chinese page online because I was a huge (quite literally) Chinese foodie. These recipes I found look good- I havent tried them yet! WOKtheWOKSEPT29.pdf

Congratulations on your decision! Wednesday will come before you know it. Be sure and take good care of yourself post op. Give your daddy a big ol hug post op and tell him you love him for his concern. And have a Merry Christmas with mom!

Haha my surgeon thinks he is God. That guy cracks me up. 180s.jpg I dunno. He seems to have a nice enough smile. My surgeon hardly ever smiles. So serious all the time. Like most surgeons, actually. My surgeon is hot. Just sayin'.

Regain my lost confidence Not have to fear being photographed Hike with my husband Be able to run a mile, or two Feel happy in public and not shame Shopping in those stores I have always cursed for not carrying sizes over 14 Learning Pilates Riding horses again Making my 30 year HS reunion classmates jealous next year (lol) Less fatigue, more energy!